Probably stupid question

[AfterDark]

Just move some weight from your rig to a ditchable weight system. Hold onto your team? Problem solved.

What problem? All but my B/P and STA is ditchable weight none of which I wish to leave on the bottom unless there is no other way. I found another way with zero problems executing its use. I have a poodle jacket I use sometimes for shallow solo dives, but most dives doubles or not it's the B/P wing.

I know of no other safe way to get a buddy in trouble to the surface but to hold on to him/her. I'm certainly not going to put my lift bag on a diver and sent 'em to surface unescorted.

Someone did that years ago diving on the U853, killed his bubby.

 

[BlueTrin]

What problem? All but my B/P and STA is ditchable weight none of which I wish to leave on the bottom unless there is no other way. I found another way with zero problems executing its use. I have a poodle jacket I use sometimes for shallow solo dives, but most dives doubles or not it's the B/P wing.

I know of no other safe way to get a buddy in trouble to the surface but to hold on to him/her. I'm certainly not going to put my lift bag on a diver and sent 'em to surface unescorted.

Someone did that years ago diving on the U853, killed his bubby.

Did he attach a DSMB to a conscious diver ?

 

[AfterDark]

Did he attach a DSMB to a conscious diver ?

Something like that, I wasn't there, got it from someone that was there. It was a long time ago and the details escape me. Just that someone sent a diver to the surface from 120FSW with some kind inflatable device, death resulting.

 

[swimlikethefish]

https://www.blockislandtimes.com/article/man-dies-diving-german-u-boat-seven-miles-east-island/19502

These were the earliest recorded fatalities I could find of the 853. Maybe one of them if someone wanted to do some digging and see what they could find.

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Example:

If all of your gear including neoprene is 14 lbs buoyant, that means you need 14 lbs of counterweight. Now if you descend to depth then some of your gear might lose buoyancy (think neoprene.) Now you would be 28 lbs overweight. So you would need a 28 lb wing to compensate.

Just a quick example, those numbers are fictional. But you get the idea.

Could also apply to a drysuit. If the suit were to flood you just lost some of your positive buoyancy. Especially with a set of steel tanks.

Just a point; if you are 14 pounds buoyant, and use a 14 pound of weight to get neutral, then go to depth and loose that buoyancy, you will need only 14 pounds of buoyancy to regain neutral buoyancy.

SeaRat

 

[EireDiver606]

Something like that, I wasn't there, got it from someone that was there. It was a long time ago and the details escape me. Just that someone sent a diver to the surface from 120FSW with some kind inflatable device, death resulting.

I never suggested that. You have misunderstood me. I said hold onto a teammate if you're negatively buoyant to help. If you are a team, they will help you.

The main point though was make your rig balanced and then you don't need a larger wing.

 

[AfterDark]

I never suggested that. You have misunderstood me. I said hold onto a teammate if you're negatively buoyant to help. If you are a team, they will help you.

The main point though was make your rig balanced and then you don't need a larger wing.

I think you misunderstood me. I haven't had an issue with buoyancy control in the last 45+ years. I citied one reason for my having a heavy lift wing was to have the extra buoyancy to get an inert diver that is also equipped like me with doubles and heavy weights for a dry suit or 7mm farmer john wet suit, to the surface in a controlled manner. I will add doing so without dropping lead or having to control anyone's BCD but my own, aside from dumping the expanding air from the victims BC as we ascend. I am prepared to go so far as to snap clip myself to the victim to be able to use both hands.

In the last 52 years of diving I've saved 2 divers from drowning. How many divers lives have you saved?

 

[PfcAJ]

Your wing needs to be able to float your gear without you in the gear.

divers are floaty. If your wing isn’t big enough to keep your tank and regs et al afloat, you’d lose your gear if you have to slip out to get on a boat, or (as I have seen in real life) your gear comes loose when coming out of a rough inlet. There was weeping and gnashing of teeth for that poor guy.

 

[Ayisha]

Your wing needs to be able to float your gear without you in the gear.

divers are floaty. If your wing isn’t big enough to keep your tank and regs et al afloat, you’d lose your gear if you have to slip out to get on a boat, or (as I have seen in real life) your gear comes loose when coming out of a rough inlet. There was weeping and gnashing of teeth for that poor guy.

Hmm, sounds like a case for keeping a wing inflated while stowed on a boat, just in case it goes overboard. Duly noted.

For the OP, about 30 lbs of lift is pretty standard for a single tank that's AL or steel 80 or 104 cf. If your single tank is a lot bigger than that, you may benefit from 40 lbs or so of lift.

A bigger wing is not necessarily better, though. If the wing is bigger than necessary, it will taco around the tank and trap gas, making it more challenging to release gas and achieve and maintain neutral buoyancy. Take what you need.

 

[PfcAJ]

Hmm, sounds like a case for keeping a wing inflated while stowed on a boat, just in case it goes overboard. Duly noted.

cheap insurance! Especially if you’re set up towards the back of the boat!!